The MB line from Bridgestone produced some of the most timeless bikes, still in use today. Whether as a basket bike or a drop bar tourer, such as Joel’s. Let’s look at how Joel built this beautiful classic up below!
Hey Radavist folks,
I thoroughly enjoy seeing all the bikes you post, along with your other articles.
I’ve been riding bikes for decades now: been a (club) racer, bike messenger, (paid) bike mechanic, bike commuter, and bike tourer. I like bikes. I thought I’d share one of my babies with you…
This is my 1989 Bridgestone MB3 Comp. It’s been through a number of different configurations, including a stint as a 700c cross-bikey-kind-a-thing! But now it’s my go-to all-rounder/commuter/touring bike. I’ve had it for about 15 years, but after slowly adding and subtracting parts, I think I finally have it in an ideal state for my needs.
When I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area one of my hobbies was buying bikes off of Craigslist and fixing them up for friends, or selling them, or keeping them for myself (in certain cases!). During that time, I had several Bridgestones, both road and MTB, including an almost perfect MB1 (alas, it was slightly too large for me, so it went to some other lucky person). For whatever reason, the MB3 is the one that has stuck around, probably because changing it to a drop bar bike has made it a much more flexible ride. I do almost all my own mechanicking, and all the parts on this bike were relative bargains, so it’s got a little bit of a Frankenstein feel, though everything is durable and highly functional.
At this point I use this bike on a daily basis for errands around New Orleans, “commuting” such as it is for me, and for occasional bike touring. So far, its been pretty bulletproof, even against the legendary potholes of the Big Easy.
Build Specs
Frame: Bridgestone 1989 Mb3 Comp
Wheelset: Sun CR18 Rims, Shimano hubs, 36 spokes
Tires: Continental Town and Country 1.9
Bars: Salsa Bell Lap
Stem: Profile H2O
Brake Levers: Cane Creek
Shifters: Shimano Bar End
Headset: Ritchey Logic
Fenders: SKS
Seat Post: Race Face Evolve XC
Saddle: Brooks
Crank: Specialized Road
Derailleurs: Shimano Deore
Brakes: Shimano XT
Pedals: MKS GR-10 Platform
Racks: Blackburn
Hope my baby brings your readers some joy…
Thanks!
Joel
We’d like to thank all of you who have submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared over here. The response has been incredible and we have so many to share over the next few months. Feel free to submit your bike, listing details, components, and other information. You can also include a portrait of yourself with your bike and your Instagram account! Please, shoot landscape-orientation photos, not portrait. Thanks!
